To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19681 by Angus MacKay on 19 November 2001, how relocating the headquarters of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) from Edinburgh to Inverness meets the objectives of its policy of dispersing civil service jobs.

To ask the Scottish Executive how the relocation of the headquarters of Scottish Natural Heritage from Edinburgh to Inverness will promote efficiency and effectiveness.

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has consulted Scottish Natural Heritage and the relevant trade unions about the relocation of the organisation from Edinburgh to Inverness.

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of the relocation of the headquarters of Scottish Natural Heritage from Edinburgh to Inverness.

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be any compulsory redundancies arising from the relocation of the headquarters of Scottish Natural Heritage from Edinburgh to Inverness.

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it has made of the impact of the proposed relocation of the headquarters of Scottish Natural Heritage on the organisation's ability to retain existing staff.

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of a new building for the headquarters of Scottish Natural Heritage in Inverness.

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate has been made of the value of capital receipts from the sale of Scottish Natural Heritage's properties in Edinburgh.

To ask the Scottish Executive what alternative locations were considered when reaching the decision to relocate the headquarters of Scottish Natural Heritage.

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for relocating the headquarters of Scottish Natural Heritage from Edinburgh to Inverness.

The Executive is committed to ensuring that all of Scotland benefits from the relocation of public sector jobs. In his November 2001 answer, Angus MacKay said that SNH was one of several bodies then about to undertake a relocation review under the Executive's dispersal policy. Ministers' decision to relocate SNH's Edinburgh headquarters to Inverness clearly demonstrates that the Executive means to deliver on the dispersal of public sector jobs around Scotland.

The move to Inverness will bring benefits in terms of the development of the relocation policy which outweigh purely financial considerations. SNH currently works between two buildings in Edinburgh. A move to a single energy-efficient headquarters building away from the extremely competitive Edinburgh labour market will realise significant long-term efficiency gains. Over a 30-year period the move to Inverness will cost in the region of £22 million in net present value terms. On the same cost basis, the other options considered (including the status quo) ranged from over £15 million to £22 million. The other locations set out in the DTZ Pieda relocation report and considered by ministers were the status quo and a new combined site in Edinburgh, Perth, Stirling and West Lothian. I met separately with SNH management and its Trade Unions to hear their views before ministers reached the Inverness decision.

We acknowledge that the relocation will cause SNH some short- to medium-term problems, including the possibility that some staff may leave rather than undertake the move. But as mentioned above, a new sustainable headquarters building in Inverness will realise significant long-term efficiency gains. A package of measures is being designed to ensure that the relocation goes ahead as smoothly as possible. It will provide assistance for SNH staff and minimise disruption to SNH's core work over the transitional period. All efforts will be made to minimise the scope of redundancies and ensure that any necessary redundancies are negotiated on a voluntary basis. SNH is firming up the estimated cost of a new building in Inverness as part of an overall project plan. The cost of this will be partly offset by the sale proceeds of the Hope Terrace headquarters, currently estimated at approximately £1.75 million, and of SNH's current buildings in Inverness which may realise some £2 million.

The timing of the move will partly be determined by the lease break occurring at the Anderson Place headquarters, which gave rise to the relocation review. The lease will expire on 31 March 2005 and it is expected that the vast majority of staff currently based there will have relocated to Inverness by that date. The disposal of the Hope Terrace headquarters will depend on the timing of securing appropriate accommodation in Inverness. I am asking SNH to work up a project plan to address these and other aspects of the relocation and submit this to ministers in due course.